Talking Cars: Is it safe to buy American?

Junior Damato

Thursday

Feb 28, 2008 at 12:01 AMFeb 28, 2008 at 10:57 AM

I am very leery of buying American with all the problems I hear about and read about. Have the American cars been improved enough to compete with the imports? Do you still see more American car problems than imports at your shop?

Q: My wife and I have had Hondas and Toyotas for several years and are very happy. We are now considering the purchase of a Ford Freestyle. I am very leery of buying American with all the problems I hear about and read about. Have the American cars been improved enough to compete with the imports? Do you still see more American car problems than imports at your shop?

A: This is a great question and long overdue. I will say that the American vehicles have improved dramatically over the last two years. I repair a fairly equal number of both import and domestic. You must also keep in mind the import brands are outselling the American brands. The American brand manufacturers are trying to get you back in the showrooms with deep discounts. I personally have no reason not to take a second look at the American car line.

Q: For years, I have read articles saying that batteries are affected by temperature and sometimes can freeze and crack. On the other extreme, I have read they can also explode. Is one battery or battery type better than another, and what would cause a battery to explode? What is the average battery life expectancy?

A: Batteries will sometimes explode when the gases are ignited by a spark, poor connection or, sometimes, when trying to jump-start a car. Some batteries are sealed and are less likely to have gases escape and blow up; other batteries are vented with a small rubber hose to the outside when mounted in the passenger compartment or trunk. Battery quality depends on a number of factors including brand, cold cranking amps and replacement warranty. The Interstate battery brand has been around for many years and has a good warranty. The Optima battery line is a sealed battery that is used in many applications where space and venting can be a problem. I sell both brands at our shop. I suggest a thorough battery and charging system test at the 3-year age. Whenever working around the battery, always wear safety glasses that completely cover your eyes.

Q: I am in the market to buy my first new car. I have already been pre-approved for a car loan. I plan on buying one this summer. Should I consider an extended warranty on my new car purchase?

A: Congratulations on your decision to buy a new car. Be very careful on this major purchase. I would suggest taking a friend along with you for support and advice if needed. Do not buy the first car you look at! Take your time and look, and test-drive a few different cars. An extended warranty can be very good insurance for coverage after the factory warranty expires. I personally have had great success with the warranty that a lot of AAA members get thru the AAA monthly magazine. The warranty is not inexpensive, however, it covers more than any other I have seen at the shop.

Q: My brother owns a 1999 Cadillac Deville. When he takes his foot off the gas pedal, the engine will stall. The dealer has cleaned the carbon, and the engine still stalls. There are no trouble fault codes in the computer. What are your thoughts?

A: Just because the car is at the dealer does not mean the technician is fully qualified to make the repair. You can go back to the dealer again ask for a different technician or go to an independent repair shop.

Q: With gas prices on the rise, I am always searching for ways to improve gas mileage in addition to regular maintenance and driving habits. Some auto magazines have advertisements for fresh air intake systems. The ads tout improved gas mileage and power. However slight they may be, are they worth the investment?

A: There is no question that a fresh air intake system will increase power at three-fourths to wide-open throttle. A simple high performance air filter element in the stock air filter could be marginal at best. Any time you can get fresh cool air into the engine, it is a plus. As for the cost trade off, it will take a few years at least. The best solution for increasing gas mileage is proper maintenance, tire pressure, good driving habits and full synthetic engine oil.

Q: For some time there has been controversy of the life of tires. DOT states that any tire over 5 years old should be replaced regardless of condition. Some tire manufacturers say this is not true even if there are small dry cracks on the tire. This is a big discussion at work. What are your thoughts?

A: It is my opinion that any tire showing signs of dry weather cracks does need replacement. There are some cases in vintage and classic vehicles that have limited driving weekends, car clubs events, etc., that the 5-year replacement does not apply. For the rest of us that drive late model vehicles, pay very close attention to tire condition and age.

Q: I recently purchased a 2007 Honda Ridgeline pick up. The vehicle is rated at 16 city, 21 highway. I am only getting 13.6 around town and have not yet gone out on the highway. The dealer says the winter-oxygenated fuel and the truck being new is the reason. He also said it takes a couple thousand miles for break in. What is your opinion, and would synthetic oil help?

A: New engines do require some break in mileage. Full synthetic oil can increase full mileage up to one mile per gallon. The EPA rating does not reflect actual mileage you will get. As the engine does break in mileage will usually increase slightly.

Q: I own a 2001 Camaro LS1 V/8 engine with 35,000 miles. The engine exhibits what is known as piston slap, which I understand to be the piston moving is the cylinder. The noise is quite loud when cold and does diminish about 80 percent when warm. How will the piston slap affect the longevity of the engine?

A: Piston slap is the actual piston moving at the lower end of the down stroke of the engine. As the temperature warms, the piston and cylinder will expand slightly. In some cases the noise will disappear altogether. As for long term engine problems, to date I have never seen a problem. I would suggest switching to a 15w40 full synthetic oil and see if that quiets the engine down.

Junior Damato writes weekly about cars. You can send questions to him care of the Old Colony Memorial, 182 Standish Ave., Plymouth, MA 02360.

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